Brazil begins its preparation for the Copa América in the United States with a friendly against Mexico, in Texas, where it is expected to test an alternative eleven without Vinícius, brand new champion of the Champions League, but with Endrick at the top.
Mexico is getting better, although with worse feelings after a narrow victory against Bolivia (1-0) and a embarrassing defeat against Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay (0-4).
The Canarinha, in the midst of a reconstruction process and without Neymar, still recovering from a torn knee ligament, will be their last rival before making their debut in the continental tournament against Jamaica.
For the ‘green-yellow’ team it will be only the first of the two scheduled tests – the second will be on the 12th against the United States in Orlando – and the third game with Dorival Júnior as coach.
His debut, with a victory against England at Wembley (0-1) and a draw with Spain in Madrid (3-3) left a very good taste in the mouth. The locker room speaks of a “new cycle” after a 2023 to forget, after a dance of coaches and the definitive no from the Italian Carlo Ancelotti.
Dorival plans to go out with an eleven full of theoretical substitutes at the Kyle Field Stadium, where around 100,000 fans are expected to appear.
In this way, Vinícius and Rodrygo, who have just won their second European Champions League with Real Madrid, as well as Lucas Paquetá, will foreseeably sit on the bench.
It will be the opportunity to see Yan Couto, Gabriel Martinelli and Endrick, the 17-year-old who will join Real Madrid next July after a meteoric rise at Palmeiras.
The forward has gotten off to a good start in the senior team, despite being a teenager. He scored at Wembley and at the Bernabéu, although he is somewhat physically worn out from his last matches with the São Paulo club.
The Mexican team, for its part, will try to silence the criticism after losing humiliatingly to Uruguay in Denver.
The last time Brazil and Mexico met was in the round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with a 2-0 victory for the South Americans, with goals from Neymar and Roberto Firmino, who will not be in this America Cupwhich will be held in the United States between June 20 and July 14.
